“This recording of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ is a ‘monument’ in every sense of the word. … Conveying ideas to an orchestra is one thing, but letting an orchestral body of around 100 musicians carry them out like clockwork, as if holding everyone on a personal string, can only be done if musicians believe in their master and have confidence in what he is asking them to do. This makes a Chef stand out from the crowd. Manfred Honeck is such a Chef. … What a fine example of committed playing. Live recordings are either the best or the worst in comparison to an empty hall recording session. If the spark between audience and musicians gets across, this invariably draws out the best in every performance. This has clearly happened here. Any of the three concerts in Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh, from which this recording has been assembled, must have been an unforgettable event. … Without going into a detailed description of each movement, it is obvious that this symphony gets a personal, yet most fascinating rendition; never too much, nor too little. …this recording will score high on anyone’s short-list.” — Adrian Quanjer, HR Audio